NBC News reported tonight on a violent altercation between two groups on the streets of Berkeley. One group was purportedly there to defend free speech, while the opposing group's goal was to fight fascism. Berkeley police arrested 21 people, and several people went to the hospital. The rally was described by NBC Bay Area as a clash between pro-Trump and anti-Trump protesters.

Studying the photos and videos of the event, however, a different picture of the event emerges. Examining archived Twitter messages sent over the last several weeks makes it clear that this event was a staged performance designed to foment discord and distract from other events in the news.​A photo from the event shows the costume of the “pro-Trump” group. They clearly came prepared for a violent, theatrical clash.

Source: Christie Smith/NBC Bay Area

This is not the ordinary garb of a peaceful rally participant. More photos from NBC Bay Area show that there were two distinct groups of combatants - the pro-Trump "free speech" defenders, dressed like the person above, and the "anti-fascists," dressed in black with balaclavas over their faces.

Source: NBC Bay Area

NBC Bay Area​ shows photos of the altercations at the event. A close examination of these photos, and a study of some deleted posts from several Twitter accounts, shows that the event was a theatrical event designed to confuse the public and distract from other events in the weekend news.

A character who calls himself Based Stick Man (real name Kyle Chapman), posted messages to Twitter that were deleted (likely today). A few of the messages, shown below, make it clear that this person had plans for turning this event into something other than a peaceful rally.

​The story becomes more complex. Twitter messages purportedly from "antifa" (anti-fascist) groups show a threat to the "free speech" group that must be defended against.

Add to this the message from early this morning showing that the event would be livestreamed on Facebook, and one might begin to wonder if someone was planning for a violent clash that could be propaganda for increased tensions between left and right.

Source: Caroline O./Twitter

This kind of violent public display, which appears to be orchestrated to mislead people into thinking there is more political conflict in California than their really is, has cost the city of Berkeley a lot of money. City spokesperson Matthai Chakko has described it as "a significant cost, there's no doubt." Berkeleyside has reported that most of those arrested at the March 4 event were not Berkeley residents. (Kyle Chapman is reported to be from San Francisco.)

The "free speech event" that turns violent provide a classic example of a Russian Intelligence Service technique called provokatsiya (provocation). It is designed to confuse and distract. (Today's Tax Marches throughout the country, in which thousands of middle-class taxpayers showed their desire for President Trump to release his tax returns, got less coverage because of the "violent" free speech rally in Berkeley.) Whether these rabble-rousers are actively working for Russian interests, or are just causing trouble out of a pathetic need for attention, they are certainly accomplishing a goal of the RIS.

​Similar violent events have occurred since President Trump began his candidacy. There was a pro-Trump rally in Huntington Beach, California, on March 25, which also seemed to have staged violence. An event in Sacramento took place on the same weekend, with no reported violence. Sacramento police reported the crowd size to be about 250 people, according to Fox 40 News.

John Schindler, a national security expert and contributor to ​The Observer, has described the RIS technique of provokatsiya this way:

“Provocation is complicated, but at its most basic involves secret acts to confuse and dismay your enemy … Taking control of your enemies in secret and encouraging them to do things that discredit them and help you. You plant your own agents provocateurs and flip legitimate activists, turning them to your side…"

Fortunately, the attempts to discredit the left by associating protesters with violence is not catching on in the United States. Understanding the techniques that some groups use to distract and confuse, and a maintaining a healthy dose of skepticism, can help us know what to believe and what to recognize as absurdnosti - absurdity.